Two state Democratic Party officials, Roger Lund of the southcentral party caucus and Harry Lawrence of the southeast party caucus, said Paterno called them today and told them that he's circulating petitions to get on the May 20 primary ballot.

Party officials had expected Paterno might run for Congress, but Lund says Paterno told him that he believed he could serve Pennsylvania better by staying in the state.

The field of Democratic lieutenant governor candidates is big, but lacks Paterno's name recognition.

Lieutenant governor candidates run separately of gubernatorial candidates in the primary and together in the general election.